Worried im on too much insulin Gestational diabetes

[strawberryswizzler]

I’m on max dose metformin and 10 units insulin with breakfast. My premeal readings are the problem (too high) but inbetween im having hypos every couple of days and feeling in general very dizzy. My midwife has said this is ok and that I need the insulin for pre meals - am I just expected to keep having hypos until my section in 7 weeks? Surely that cant be good for baby

What insulin are you prescribed?

I’m on humilin long acting

Do you have appointments with a diabetes consultant where you can discuss this? I don't have gestational diabetes but I am type 1 diabetic so know how hypos can make you feel! My consultant has assured me that although hypos aren't pleasant for you, as long as you're able to manage them yourself (eg you're not passing out etc) there's no risk to the baby.

You shouldn't have to deal with them though, especially if you drive, it's not safe. You should definitely push to speak to a consultant if you haven't got any appointments lined up.

Hi OP, you should bring it up with a consultant as its not good to be having constant hypos. I have T2 but had to use insulin in later stages of my pregnancies and I was on quick acting (novorapid i think the brand was) before meal, and then long acting at night only - I would check they haven't made a mistake prescribing.

Will caveat this by saying my experience is T1 but I’m wondering why they have you on long acting before meals? This seems peculiar to me.

In a T1 long acting is given to bring the blood sugar down all the time and short acting is given for meals. Long acting insulin won’t really help with food spikes and if a T1 is having too many hypos (outwith meal times) the first thing you do is reduce the long acting.

Apologies if I have completely misunderstood the issue here.

Can you reduce the long acting insulin and split the dose so half in morning and half in evening ?

Unless your midwife is a diabetes specialist, I wouldn't rely too much on their advice. I'm a nurse and see diabetic patients, but I don't get involved with insulin dosing so I wouldn't advise on it. I'd ask to speak to your consultant/diabetes team who prescribed it or failing that, your GP who will at least be familiar with insulin regimes.

Hi - sorry, to clarify it’s my diabetes specialist midwife who’s prescribed it. The insulin is long acting and they’ve said it should bring down my levels before my lunch and before my dinner as they’re the issue, not my post meals. However I woke up today at 3.9 feeling really unwell like I could barely get out of bed, treated it. Had breakfast etc. post breakfast was over the target at 7.8 which it’s never over target I have the same breakfast everyday 😭 I feel really off right now like I can’t breathe properly and dizzy, but my sugars are fine again?? I can’t get through to my diabetes team on the phone either, just not sure how to keep going like this until end of next month when I have 2 other toddlers to look after. Currently about to sit in their playgroup for 2 hours whilst feeling like im about to keel over 😅😅

Hi not sure what the level is for hypo in gestational diabetes but 3.9 isn’t considered hypo for diabetics - it’s on the lower side but I don’t think you should be feeling so awful until you are under 3.5. If you were about to have breakfast anyway then it would have levelled out. The reason you would have been higher after your breakfast is that you have over treated - by treating when you didn’t need to as you were about to have breakfast. Hope I’ve explained that clearly - it’s quite tricky to get out in text.

The issue with long lasting is once it’s in your system then there’s no control over it - are you eating at consistent times and around the same amount of carbs daily? That will make a big difference if you are late or skipping meals!